Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Co-infection in Patients Attending Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) Centers in Anambra State, Nigeria

Background and Aim(s)This study retrospectively assessed the prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS co-infection among patients that attended the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Southeast, Nigeria, between 2013 and 2017. MethodsThe study adopted a descriptive and retrospective epidemiological survey design. A total of 1443 case files of patients aged 15 to 60 who were treated in DOTS centers selected from Anambra States 21 Local Government Areas between 2013 and 2017 were investigated. The uniform data form, a standardized instrument used in Anambra States health facilities for data collection, was used to collect data from case files of all those identified as co-infected with TB and HIV/AIDS. ResultsThe mean prevalence rate of TB and HIV/AIDS co-infection in the state during the five-year period (2013-2017) was 20%. The highest annual prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS co-infection was recorded in 2014 (23.84%). The states prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS co-infection increased dramatically from 13.17% in 2013 to 23.84% in 2014, followed by a slight downward trend to 22.80% in 2015, 20.17% in 2016, and 20.03% in 2017. In terms of gender, age, marital status, and occupation, females (59.5%), those aged 15 to 25 years (30.7%), married people (43.9%), and traders/business owners (50.7%), respectively, had the highest rates of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS co-infection during the study period. ConclusionThe findings of this study show that young people, females, married people, and traders/business owners appear to be the most vulnerable groups affected by TB and HIV/AIDS co-infection, accounting for the majority of the disease burden in the state. To address the high prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS co-infection in the Anambra State, novel intervention and control programs should be developed and implemented, and existing intervention frameworks should be strengthened.